Both of these creators at their best are unmatched by their peers. When you look at their bodies of work today, you can still see their lasting impact on comics, cartoons and creations. When you ask creators who were some of their biggest influences, chances are Jack Kirby or Alex Toth will be on their lists. How could they not be? These two creators have become the standard and that will never change. Here are two examples of their prestige by others. The New York Times, in a Sunday op-ed piece written more than a decade after his death, on Jack Kirby: “He created a new grammar of storytelling and a cinematic style of motion. Once-wooden characters cascaded from one frame to another—or even from page to page—threatening to fall right out of the book into the reader’s lap. The force of punches thrown was visibly and explosively evident. Even at rest, a Kirby character pulsed with tension and energy in a way that makes movie versions of the same characters seem static by comparison.”
Journalist Tom Spurgeon on Alex Toth: “He had an almost transcendent understanding of the power of art as a visual story component, that he is one of the handful of people who could seriously enter into Greatest Comic Book Artist of All-Time discussions, and a giant of 20th Century cartoon design.”
Although I loved their art as a young kid reading comics and watching cartoons, I didn’t know why I always returned to their work time and time again. There was just something about it that drew me in. As I grew older and became more aware, I got educated by studying them and their work (a 20-year ordeal). I noticed that they were so admired and heralded by their peers but yet, so vastly different in art styles. Since both of their styles intrigued me, I became curious to find out which one really made more of an impact on the world of comics and popular fiction. Who was truly better at their peak? Who was more influential? Who was more creative? It kinda turned into an obsession of mine... I had to know who has the right to be called the true “King” of comics! In order to find out that answer, I had to compare them and stack their talents up against each other head-to-head. Evaluating and comparing these two genius creators can be purely subjective, especially to their fans—because let’s face it, fanboys think that their creator of choice is the best at everything. Hey, I get it, but it’s not really the truth (and I pride myself on the truth). If you take a step back and compare each artist based on their greatest strengths and weaknesses, an answer can be found somewhere in the middle. I know this won’t be easy, but I want an answer. And just to show the readers how difficult this is, see for yourself how both artists compare to each other with similar action sequences shown in the examples on these two pages. Both are literally flawless... how do you compare perfection? I didn’t write this article to disrespect either of these great creators. Truth be told, they are both my heroes (along with Stan Lee)! I couldn’t tell you how much their works have entertained and inspired me throughout my life. It also saddens me that I never got a chance to meet either of them, to thank them for everything they’ve given to me. So here is my chance. I hope you readers will enjoy it as well, because this is a monumental task that is a true labor of love. Without further ado, let’s take an analytically-charged in-depth look at Jack Kirby and Alex Toth, the two titans of comic book creators, and find out who is really the best of the best! KAAA-POWWW!
and most influential creators in the history of the comic book medium (he’s been dubbed the “William Blake” of comics). He entered into the nascent comic industry in the 1930s in which he drew various comic features under different pen names, ultimately settling on “Jack Kirby.” In 1940, he and writer/editor Joe Simon created the incredibly popular character Captain America for Timely Comics (Marvel Comics). During the rest of the 1940s, the highly prolific Simon and Kirby team created numerous characters for both Timely and National (now DC) Comics. After serving in World War II (fighting under General George S. Patton and almost losing both his legs due to frostbite in the famous battle of Bastogne), Kirby returned to comics and worked in a variety of genres. He produced work for a number of publishers, including DC Comics, Harvey Comics, Hillman Periodicals and Crestwood Publications, where he and Simon created the genre of romance comics. They also launched their own shortlived comic company, Mainline Publications. Kirby ultimately went on his own and found himself at Timely’s 1950s iteration, Atlas Comics, soon to become Marvel Comics. There, in the 1960s, he and
Tale of the Tape orn Jacob Kurtzberg in New York City, Jack Kirby is regarded by comics historians and fans alike as one of the major innovators
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